Casino and ... cannabis? California tribe opens marijuana dispensary in Fresno area

Last summer, the Picayune Rancheria of the Chukchansi Indians signed a new memorandum of understanding with Madera County.

Mentioned among the items in the memo was recognition of changes in federal and state laws to allow for tribal jurisdiction in regulating cannabis. Meaning, that while the tribe doubled the limit of gaming devices inside its casino, it also would begin incorporating cannabis into its economic development strategy.

Signs of progress on that front can be seen — quite literally — about 30 miles north of Fresno on Highway 41 just south of Coarsegold.

On one sign at least.

It’s clearly visible from the road and plays heavy on the area’s tribal roots and proximity to Yosemite National Park. The sign incorporates the area’s iconic natural features, along with a full moon and the words “Tribal Nation Flower Co. and Indigenous Cannabis.”

Tribal Nation Flower Company opened in January just off Highway 41 near Chukchansi Gold Resort and Casino. It hosted its official grand opening Saturday with a food truck, live music and giveaways for customers.

“With this store, tribal cannabis has arrived,” says Ben Halley, with Honest Cannabis, the Las Vegas company contracted to manager the dispensary.

Tribal Nation Flower Company dispensary is under contract with the Picayune Rancheria of the Chukchansi Indians, but not connected to or affiliated with the Chukchansi Gold Resort and Casino.

Tribal-owned marijuana dispensaries

Though the market is expanding, Tribal Nation Flower Company is just one of five tribal-owned dispensaries in the state and the first to be set next to such a large population base, Halley says.

There had been plans for another near Fresno. To the south, the Tule River Tribe had announced in 2020 plans to open a dispensary near Porterville, but that was put on hold last year, according to the Hanford Sentinel.

Fresno is still working through its cannabis licensing process and won’t likely see a dispensary open for several months, so Tribal Nation Flower Company is the nearest cannabis retailer for more than a half a million people in Madera County and northern Fresno County combined, Halley says.

The shop bills itself as “indigenous cannabis” and that’s more than branding. Much of the product is made internally, and the dispensary also has a network of a dozen or so tribes from across California. That’s from the high desert to Humboldt County, where the dispensary gets supplied directly from an outdoor grow that sits along the Trinity River.

“It looks like Eden when you go up there,” Halley says.

Tribal Nation’s products, plans

The dispensary stocks the full range of cannabis products, from cartridges and disposables to pre rolls, edibles and flower strains with names like Garlic Budder, Girl Scout Cookies and Motor Breath. The latter has a THC percentage pushing 35%.

Pre rolls range from $5 to $25 with flowers ranging from $7 to $160 an ounce.

The store also has its own branded merchandise and apparel — sweatshirts, hat, coffee mugs and the like — along with outdoor gear and apparel from indigenous brands like The NTVS.

These companies are independent, from “seed to sale,” Halley says, and that makes the dispensary different that other businesses on tribal lands.

“This isn’t a tax break on fireworks or cigarettes,” he says.

“They control it from start to finish.”

And already, he’s seeing repeat customers. Of those who came through the doors over the span of an hour on Wednesday morning, 50% had been there before.

That’s across demographics, he says.

“I see the cowboys. I see the retired teachers. I see the arborists. I see members of the tribe. It’s everyone that comes through these doors,” he says.

Without becoming a full-on roadside attraction, the dispensary is looking to host food truck and music events during the summer, when weather permits. It’s also planning to add more product lines and open a drive-thru window later this year. Mostly, Tribal Nation Flower Company wants to challenge the notion of what it means to be a dispensary, Halley says.

“We’re looking to normalize this experience.”

This story was originally published February 5, 2022 at 5:00 AM.